The most common complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy.

Although it has no obvious symptom in the earliest stages, through time the condition can progress into a state in which the eye's blood vessels leak and rupture easily, eventually causing blindness.

diabetic retinopathy is caused by high blood glucose levels. Almost all type 1 diabetics exhibit symptoms of this eye disorder.

For the time scientists have been able to show in clinical trials that a therapeutic compound can be used to protect against the complications of diabetic retinopathy.

The compound ruboxistaurin has been found to slow the progression of retinopathy by inhibiting an enzyme in the body called protein kinase C beta (PKC beta). PKC is believed to contribute to the blood vessel damage that leads to the disease.

Such were the findings of a study led by Dr. Lloyd Aiello of the Joslin Diabetes Center:

According to Dr. Richard Insel, Executive Vice President of Research for JDRF:

"Since retinopathy is the most common and serious eye-related complication of those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes -- and is the leading cause of adult blindness in Americans -- the outstanding research being done in this area will have a significant impact on the millions of people with diabetes."

The spring 2007 edition of Countdown (the quarterly journal of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) has the complete details of ongoing human clinical trials in the area of diabetic retinopathy, including important findings to date.

Read the full report.